CYNIC
finally return with their long awaited second full length since their
2007 reunion. "Kindly Bent to Free Us" is at the same time
a natural continuation of best-selling album "Traced in Air"
(2008) as well as a collection of new ideas incorporating new
elements distilled from their musical experiments conducted on the
two EPs "Re-Traced" (2010) and "Carbon-Based Anatomy"
(2011). Instead of simply repeating their successful formula, CYNIC
dare to expand their horizon into even more complex soundscapes that
demand careful and intense study before revealing their full
astonishing beauty. All the trademarks that gained the American
progressive pioneers their cult status are still there:
forward-thinking riffing fused with the rhythmical intricacy of Jazz
and the melodic complexity of Progressive Rock.

The
alchemy of front man Paul Masvidal and rhythmaniacs Sean Reinert and
Sean Malone should equally appeal to CYNIC enthusiasts as well as
connoisseurs of PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH, THE PINEAPPLE THIEF,
KATATONIA, and ULVER. CYNIC was formed in 1987 during
the burgeoning rise of Death Metal in Miami, Florida before
relocating to Los Angeles, California. The impressive technical
abilities of the band's founding members even led to Paul and Sean
Reinert being recruited by Chuck Schuldiner of DEATH and led to the
inception of the 1991 landmark album "Human". With their
first full-length "Focus" (1993) CYNIC
created another milestone of Progressive Metal, but disbanded the
next year to explore different musical paths. Now these genre leaders
offer you "Kindly Bent to Free Us". Listen well

Prog bands have always been the outsiders. They are the ones
who make patience-testing, drawn out songs which incorporate elements
of everything and anything into their sound, veer off into obscure
timings and refuse to adhere to anyone’s musical rules bar their
own.

Formed in Florida in 1987, Cynic’s tale is no
different. In their early days, they were surrounded by a blossoming
tidal wave of death metal bands that had turned the sunny coastal
state a deathly shade of black. A band with lighter, more progressive
tendencies like Cynic didn’t fit the mould, hence their relocation
to Los Angeles.

From their they built a cult following and,
since their reunion in 2007, after 13 years working on other
projects, they returned a more refined and slicker machine, resulting
in their biggest selling album to date in 2008’s Traced In Air.

A further 6 years down the line and the expectancy for
something special is justifiably huge and, while Kindly Bent Us
Free may not blow your balls off, there are plenty of great
moments to wrap your ears around.

Namely, The Lions Roar,
a punchy song, driven by a Rush inspired riffs which pack both
progressive aesthetics (meandering bass, vocals that float about in
the atmosphere and diminished chords aplenty) as well as a lofty,
catchy chorus.

Infinite Shapes meanwhile is armed
with Opeth fashioned octave riffs and Porcupine Tree clean-cut
guitars. It’s a song that typifies the band’s eye for dynamic
eccentricity as driven passages weave in and out of those clean
guitars, while the whole thing is wrapped in another memorable
chorus.

There is however, a distinct lack of a melodic
centrepiece on other tracks. As good as they are, with their oceanic
soundscapes and trippy dual harmonies, some songs just seem to come
and go. Yet, when those big choruses come along, they seem to bite
that little harder as if to make up for their previous omission.

Gitanjali is a fine example of this. For the
guitarists out there, its riffs and solo deserve great admiration,
but yet again it’s the chorus that leaves the biggest mark.

Bassist Sean Malone is particularly impressive on the record.
His jazz infused bass lines work in both holding a rock sold rhythm
as well as flying all over the place, dictated by their player’s
technical Excellency. Locking snugly into Sean Reiner’s equally as
disjointed rhythms, they allow guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal to
lead you to far off worlds with resonate chord progressions and
velvet smooth vocal lines that keep on rising into the ether.

And
that is where you’re left as the album draws to a close; lost
somewhere between planet earth and zero gravity – this is a record
that transports you away from the doom and gloom of everyday life and
for that alone, it is well worth a listen.

Band Submissions

To those bands who have recently issued their first demo or album via bandcamp and would like to be featured on our 666 Pack Review or considered for a full review or stream please contact Aaron via email including your EPK, band bio, album file or download code, including artwork.

To those bands issuing their sophomore record and so on and would like to be considered for a review or stream on the blog. Get in touch using the same address above

We will consider bands from any genre but exclusively stoner, sludge, doom, psych, post-metal, experimental, black-metal etc. (Whilst I would like to respond to every email, this is not always possible.) Thanks